One-piece slipper

ABSTRACT

A foot covering of the slipper or moccasin type formed from a single sheet of pliable material comprising the entire sole and upper, a forward fold of the sheet of material forming a sheath adapted to receive the forward portion of a foot including the instep and also forming a forward extension of the sheath resulting in a tapered cap equal in length to approximately onehalf the length of the foot and terminating in a substantially pointed tip, the fold having complementary edges at the shoe tip end and outer aspect of the shoe united as a seam extending at sole level from around the shoe tip and of the shoe to a point adjacent to the portion of the shoe adapted to receive the ball of the foot and then diagonally upward to the mouth of the shoe on the outer side of the instep portion; a reinforcing tongue bridges the seam at the mouth of the shoe and a first eared portion of triangular shape extends rearwardly from the sheath and spanning the forward portion of the mouth of the shoe; the sheet is also provided with a rear fold which forms the heel receiving portion of the shoe and which is closed at the rear end thereof by a continuous right-angled seam having horizontal and vertical seam portions, the vertical seam portion having a reinforcing tongue bridging its upper end, the horizontal seam portion having a lower curved portion in extension of the plane of the sole of the shoe defining an enlargement in the lower rear portion of the shoe and constituting a heel-fitting pocket, the rear fold having a second eared portion of triangular shape extending above the heel at the rear of the shoe, the two triangular eared portions being adapted to assist in pulling the shoe onto the foot.

United States Patent [191 Irwin 1 3,710,485 [45] Jan. 16, 1973 [54]ONE-PIECE SLIPPER [22] Filed: Oct. 12, 1971 [2]] Appl. No.: 188,230

3,568,338 3/1971 Nadler..... ....36/ll Primary Examiner-Patrick D.Lawson AttorneyWilliam S. Dorman 57 ABSTRACT A foot covering of theslipper or moccasin type formed from a single sheet of pliable materialcomprising the entire sole and upper, a forward fold of the sheet ofmaterial forming a sheath adapted to receive the forward portion of afoot including the instep and also forming a' forward extension of thesheath resulting in a tapered cap equal in length to approximatelyone-half the length of the foot and terminating in a substantiallypointed tip, the fold having complementary edges at the shoe tip end andouter aspect of the shoe united as a seam extending, at sole level fromaround the shoe tip and of the shoe to a point adjacent to the portionof the shoe adapted to receive the ball of the foot and then diagonallyupward to the mouth of the shoe on the outer side of the instep portion;a reinforcing tongue bridges the seam at the mouth of the shoe and afirst eared portion of triangular shape extends rearwardly from thesheath and spanning the forward portion of the mouth of the shoe; thesheet is alsoprovided with a rear fold which forms the heel receivingportion of the shoe and which is closed at the rear end thereof by acontinuous right-angled seam having horizontal and vertical seamportions, the vertical seam portion having a reinforcing tongue bridgingits upper end, the horizontal seam portion having a lower curved portionin extension of the plane of the sole of the shoe defining anenlargement in the lower rear portion of the shoe and constituting aheel-fitting pocket, the rear fold having a second eared portion oftriangular shape extending above the heel at the rear of the shoe, thetwo triangular eared portions being adapted to assist in pulling theshoe onto the foot.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAH 16 ms 3. 7 l 0 .485

sum 1 [1F 2 FIG. 4

HENRY D. IRWIN INVENTOR.

21M MML ATTORNEY PATENTEUJAH 16 I975 3.710.485

SHEET 2 UP 2 FIG. 2 3 HENRY D. IRWIN 4 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY ONE-PIECE SLIPPER FIELD OF THE INVENTION casin or slipper typewhich may be readily slipped on and off the foot and, when not in use,may be folded for storage in a relatively small space.

THE PRIOR ART One-piece slippers or moccasins are not new. US. Pat. No.2,494,617 granted to Rose Hogan shows a one-piece foot covering of theslipper type which can be readily slipped on and off the foot and whichcan be collapsed or folded for packing in a small place. The blank ofthe Hogan patent is adapted to be folded twice, a first forward fold ofthe sheet of material formin g a sheath adapted to receive the forwardportion of a foot including the instep; the first fold provides complementary edges at the toe end and at the outer aspect of the shoe unitedas a seam extending at sole level from around the toe end of the shoe toa point adjacent the portion of the shoe adapted to receive the ball ofthe foot, then this same seam extends diagonally upward to the mouth ofthe shoe on the outer side of the instep portion. This first seam in theHogan patent is provided with a reinforcing tongue bridging the seam atthe mouth of the shoe and a rear fold of material forming the heelreceiving portion of the shoe and being closed at the rear end by avertical seam having another reinforcing tongue bridging its upper end.The seam for the rear fold is provided with a lower curved portiondefining an enlargement in the lower rear portion of the shoeconstituting a heel fitting pocket.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention defines severalimprovements over the prior art as typified by the above described Hoganpatent. First of all, the shoe or slipper of the present invention has atapered cap extending forwardly from the foot-enclosing sheath andterminating in a substantially pointed tip. The resulting shape mayremind the observer of the type of slipper worn by the court jester inthe middle ages and, as such, the slipper of the present inventionpresents a pleasing and attractive appearance. Secondly, the shoe orslipper of the present invention is provided with two triangularlyshaped ears spanning the forward and rear portions, respectively, of themouth of the shoe for the purpose of assisting the wearer in pulling theslipper onto the foot; these same ears can also be employed by thewearer to assist in removing the slipper from the foot. A third featureof the present invention involves the shape of the heel receivingportion. In the Hogan patent the rear seam is defined as a vertical seamhaving a curved portion at its lower end; the curved portion of the scamin Hogan, however, is formed by the uniting of two edges one of which isstraight and located on the portion of the shoe constituting the sole,the other edge of which is curved and located on the vertical portion ofthe shoe which forms the heel enclosing portion. In the shoe of thepresent invention, the shapes of the last two mentioned edges arereversed; that is, the curved edge is on the portion of the shoeconstituting the sole thereof and the straight edge is on the rearvertical portion of the shoe which forms the heel enclosing portion. Thelast-mentioned arrangement in the present invention results in the heelreceiving portion of the shoe being closed at the rear 1 end thereof bya continuous rightangled seam which has horizontal and vertical seamportions, the horizontal seam portion being defined as a lower curvedportion in extension of the plane of the sole of the shoe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of the shoe orslipper as it appears on the wearers left foot;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the single unitary blank from which the entireshoe or slipper is formed and showing a superimposed and optional insolewhich can be used or not as desired;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the slipper as it appears when collapsed; and

FIG. 4 is a side view of the collapsed slipper.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The foot covering, slipper, shoeor moccasin (however the wearer wishes to refer to it) of thepresentinvention is preferably made of soft. pliable leather such as kid orlamb skin with one suede surface and the other smooth or finished,natural or died, or of a similar synthetic material. The finished sideof the material preferably forms the outer surface of the foot covering.If desired, an insole can be provided to give the foot coveringincreased thickness and/or rigidity in the sole area.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the shoe is characterized by a forward vampportion 10 which forms a sheath over the transverse arch of awearersfoot and which ex,- tends rearwardly in triangular form toprovide an ear 12 which will assist the wearer in slipping on and offthe slipper. The rear portion of the shoe, which will be describedhereinafter in greater detail is provided with a heel-encircling rearportion 14 which also includes an upwardly and rearwardly extendingtriangular car 16 which will also assist the wearer in slipping the footcovering on and off the foot. The vamp portion 10 is provided with aforward extension l8 which constitutes a tapered cap or toe portionterminating in a pointed tip 20. The vamp 10 is joined to the remainingor sole portion of the slipper by means of a main seam 22 which extendsall the way from the. tip 20 to a point 24 where the vamp l0 meets themouth 25 of the shoe. More particularly, the main seam 22 extends atsole level from the tip 20 to a point 26 adjacent the portion of theslipper adapted to receive the ball of the foot and then diagonallyupward to the point 24 at the mouth of the shoe on the outer side of theinstep portion. A reinforcing tongue 28 bridges the main seam at themouth of the shoe.

The main seam 22 is preferably a side-to-side junction or lap joint ofthe leather forming the upper and bottom portions of the slipper. Theadjacent portions of leather at the seam are joined together by suitablestitching (not shown) and further stitching (not shown) is provided onthe reinforcing tongue 28.

Returning now to a consideration of the heel portion 14, it should bementioned that this heel portion extends on the sides towards and to thevamp portion 10 where on one side of the shoe, as best shown in FIG. I,it mates with the vamp along the diagonal portion of the seam 22. Theheel portion 14 is connected to the remainder of the shoe by means of acontinuous right angled seam which is formed by a horizontal curved seam30 and a vertical seam portion 32. Bridging the upper end of thevertical seam portion 32 adjacent the mouth 25 is a reinforcing tongueor tab 34.

The foot of the wearer is shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1. When the shoeis removed from the foot it can be folded flat as shown in FIGS. 3 and4.

Turning now to a consideration of FIG. 2, this figure shows a flat blankof leather or other suitable material with reference numerals thereoncorresponding to the reference numerals in FIG. 1. The point 24 whichwas referred to as the upper portion of the seam 22 appears on the lefthand portion of the blank as 24a and at the right hand portion of theblank 24b. Thus, the seam 22 is formed by folding over the portion 10towards and against the left hand portion of the blank and providingcontinuous stitching from the point 20 to points 24a and 24b which arenow together forming single point 24. Point 26 on FIG. 1 where the seam22 begins to take its diagonal direction appears on FIG. 2 as 26a on theleft hand portion of the blank and 26b on the right hand portion of theblank.

The horizontal seam portion 30 in FIG. 1 is formed by stitching togetherthe edges 30a and 30b shown in FIG. 2. 30a is curved to correspond withthe curvature of the heel of the foot and 30b is essentially straight sothat, when these two complementary edges are stitched together therewill be a resulting horizontal seam which will be curved and which willlie essentially in the plane of the sole of the slipper. The verticalseam 32 is formed by stitching together portions 32a and 32b shown inFIG. 2. The reinforcing tab 34 will bridge the top of the vertical seamportion 32 on the outside of the slipper. The seam portions 30 and 32can be stitched as a single continuous seam if desired.

If it is desired to provide additional thickness and/or rigidity to thesole of the shoe an insole member 36 may be secured to the inside of theblank; however, the insole member 36 preferably is provided with apointed toe portion 38 to give additional thickness and rigidity to thetapered cap portion 18.

In light of the above it will appear that the blank shown in FIG. 2consists of a single elongated sheet of leather or other light material(not considering the insole member 36) with irregular opposed edgesdesigned to be complementary when the material is folded to bring theminto proper juxtaposition to form both the sole and the upper of theshoe. When this blank is of leather, it should be cut so that the grainof the leather extends longitudinally of the blank. Of course, where theoptional insole member 36 is employed, such a modification will involveanother piece of leather, but, the basic feature of the inventionnevertheless involves the formation of a pliable slipper from a singlepiece of material and using only two seams to complete the slipper. Notonly is the foot covering self-conforming and self-retaining by reasonof the high vamp 10 in conjunction with the heelhugging rear end of theshoe, but also, the ears 1'2 and 16 will assist the wearer in pullingthe slipper on and off the foot. The sligper of the present inventionalso rovldes a unique pered cap extending forwardly rom the vamp andterminating in a pointed tip.

The present invention provides a light and comfortable slipper which isat the same time simple and efficient and which will be relativelyinexpensive to reproduce. Whereas mention has been made herein ofstitching, it should be obvious that the seams can be provided in othermanners well known in the art. Furthermore, other suitable materialscould be employed in place of pliable leather.

Whereas the present invention has been described in particular relationto the embodiments shown in the drawings, it should be obvious thatother and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggestedherein, can be made within the spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A slipper formed from a single sheet of pliable material comprisingthe entire sole and upper, a forward fold of said sheet of materialforming a sheath adapted to receive the forward portion of a footincluding the instep, and also forming a forward extension of said sheetresulting in a tapered cap equal in length to approximately one-half thelength of the foot and terminating in a substantially pointed tip, saidfold having complementary edges at the tip end and outer aspect of theslipper united as a seam extending at sole level from the tip to a pointadjacent to the portion of the slipper adapted to receive the ball ofthe foot and then diagonally upward to the mouth of the slipper on theouter side of the instep portion, a reinforcing tongue bridging the seamat the mouth of the slipper, a first eared portion of triangular shapeextending rearwardly from said sheath and spanning the forward portionof the mouth of the slipper, a rear fold of said sheet forming the heelreceiving portion of the slipper and being closed at the rear endthereof by a continuous right-angled seam having horizontal and verticalseam portions, the vertical seam portion having a reinforcing tonguebridging its upper end, said horizontal seam portion being a curvedportion in extension of the plane of the sole of the slipper anddefining an enlargement in the lower rear portion of the slipperconstituting a heel fitting pocket, said rear fold having an enlargementsecond eared portion of triangular shape extending above the heel at therear of said slipper, said eared portions assisting the wearer inpulling said slipper on and off the foot of the wearer. 4

2. A slipper as set forth in claim I including an insole member having apointed toe portion extending into said tapered cap. a

1. A slipper formed from a single sheet of pliable material comprisingthe entire sole and upper, a forward fold of said sheet of materialforming a sheath adapted to receive the forward portion of a footincluding the instep, and also forming a forward extension of said sheetresulting in a tapered cap equal in length to approximately one-half thelength of the foot and terminating in a substantially pointed tip, saidfold having complementary edges at the tip end and outer aspect of theslipper united as a seam extending at sole level from the tip to a pointadjacent to the portion of the slipper adapted to receive the ball ofthe foot and then diagonally upward to the mouth of the slipper on theouter side of the instep portion, a reinforcing tongue bridging the seamat the mouth of the slipper, a first eared portion of triangular shapeextending rearwardly from said sheath and spanning the forward portionof the mouth of the slipper, a rear fold of said sheet forming the heelreceiving portion of the slipper and being closed at the rear endthereof by a continuous right-angled seam having horizontal and verticalseam portions, the vertical seam portion having a reinforcing tonguebridging its upper end, said horizontal seam portion being a curvedportion in extension of the plane of the sole of the slipper anddefining an enlargement in the lower rear portion of the slipperconstituting a heel fitting pocket, said rear fold having an enlargementsecond eared portion of triangular shape extending above the heel at therear of said slipper, said eared portions assisting the wearer inpulling said slipper on and off the foot of the wearer.
 2. A slipper asset forth in claim 1 including an insole member having a pointed toeportion extending into said tapered cap.